Portuguese BBQ Chicken is one of the finest cuisines of Portugal. Read our guide below for more facts and information on the history and recipe of Portuguese BBQ Chicken…
Portuguese cuisine is very closely linked to Mediterranean cuisine and has exotically flavored, rich and sumptuous dishes in abundance. Meat and poultry along with fish and seafood are essential parts of Portuguese cuisine.
Recipe of Portuguese BBQ Chicken
Start by preparing the chili sauce. Put around 5 small fresh red birds-eye chilies (chopped), two long red chilies (chopped) and 3 long pieces of garlic in the small bowl of your food processor and churn. Add some olive oil, salt and lemon juice for a good consistency. Put this chili sauce in a plastic container.
Place one chicken on a clean surface with the breast facing up. Cut the breast in half and split the breast bone. Press the chicken to have it opened flat on the surface. Remove the back bone after cutting on either of its sides. Tuck the breast bone halves under the wings and pat it dry with a paper napkin. Repeat the same procedure with the second chicken.
Pre-heat the barbeque grill on full power and make 4 cm long and 5 mm deep cuts on the chicken flesh. Brush the bottom surface of the chicken with chili sauce. Bring down the heat to medium and put the skin-side of the chicken upwards. Let it cook for another 10 minutes and apply some chili sauce in regular intervals. Also brush the chicken top with chili sauce and turn. Continue cooking till all the juices run dry. To check pierce the thickest part of the chicken with a skewer and it should come out clean.
Your chicken can now be decorated on the serving plate. Cover it loosely with a silver foil and serve after 5 minutes. Brush the remaining chili sauce on the chicken before serving and decorate with some lemon wedges. If required the chili sauce can be prepared and stored for 14 days and used when required.
History of Portuguese cuisine
The spices specially used in preparing the dishes are a reflection of the colonial possessions of Portugal during ancient times. Spices like chili pepper, black pepper, saffron, vanilla, cinnamon and herbs like coriander and parsley are important ingredients used in preparing various delicacies. Olive oil is preferred for both flavoring and preparing the dishes. Garlic is also an essential ingredient for making the food pungent.
Portuguese like to begin their day with a hearty breakfast comprising of bread with butter, ham, cheese or jam along with tea or coffee. The lunch generally comprises of 3 courses that include a soup and main course and a dessert. The dinner too is a 3 course meal with a soup, main course followed by a dessert.
